UK Car Production Falls 10.6% in July

2026-08-26 23:25 By Joshua Ferrer 1 min. read

UK car production fell 10.6% year-on-year to 61,767 units in July 2026, following a 1.3% decline in June, driven by weaker export demand and earlier scheduling of routine summer maintenance shutdowns.

Car exports declined 16%, with shipments to the European Union falling 15%, while exports to the United States, Turkey, China and Japan dropped 18%, 19%, 37% and 24%, respectively.

The decline in overseas demand more than offset a rise in vehicles produced for the domestic market.

Commercial vehicle production also fell sharply, dropping 34% to 1,888 units.

Meanwhile, production of fully electric and hybrid models increased 6.8% to 25,678 units, marking the first monthly increase of the year and accounting for more than four in 10 cars built.

The SMMT said UK factories have produced just under 450,000 cars and commercial vehicles so far this year, while annual output could reach 1 million units by the end of the decade if manufacturers secure fresh investment and improve competitiveness.



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UK Car Production Falls 10.6% in July
UK car production fell 10.6% year-on-year to 61,767 units in July 2026, following a 1.3% decline in June, driven by weaker export demand and earlier scheduling of routine summer maintenance shutdowns. Car exports declined 16%, with shipments to the European Union falling 15%, while exports to the United States, Turkey, China and Japan dropped 18%, 19%, 37% and 24%, respectively. The decline in overseas demand more than offset a rise in vehicles produced for the domestic market. Commercial vehicle production also fell sharply, dropping 34% to 1,888 units. Meanwhile, production of fully electric and hybrid models increased 6.8% to 25,678 units, marking the first monthly increase of the year and accounting for more than four in 10 cars built. The SMMT said UK factories have produced just under 450,000 cars and commercial vehicles so far this year, while annual output could reach 1 million units by the end of the decade if manufacturers secure fresh investment and improve competitiveness.
2026-08-26
UK Car Production Falls 1.2% in June
UK car production dropped 1.2% year-on-year to 68,200 units in June 2026, reversing a 3.2% rise in May. The decline came even as domestic production plunged 17.5% yoy, though car exports rose 4.5%. For H1 of the year, car production fell 7.5% yoy to 385,979 units amid trade uncertainty, with exports dropping 5.6% to 294,222 units. Meanwhile, domestic production shed 13.2% to 91,757 units. "Clearly, vehicle production is still under severe pressure, but the last quarter suggests at least a sign of stabilization," said SMMT CEO Mike Hawes. Exports accounted for 76.2% of all vehicles built, underscoring the sector's dependence on international trade. Among key export markets, the United States was the second-largest market, accounting for 15.8% of exports, despite volumes dropping 4.6% to 45,162 units. Exports to China, the third-largest market, plunged 44.7% to 12,323 units. Meanwhile, exports to the EU, the largest market, rose 3.4% to 166,801 units, accounting for 58.3% of exports.
2026-07-29
UK Car Production Rises for 1st Time This Year
UK car production rose 3.2% year-on-year to 49,249 units in May 2026, reversing four consecutive monthly declines and marking the first increase this year. The recovery was driven by stronger overseas demand, with car exports rising 3.9% to 38,897 units and accounting for 79% of total output. Among key export markets, the United States recorded the largest increase, surging 83.1% to 7,733 units, supported by the implementation of the US-UK trade agreement, while exports to the EU, the largest market, fell 5.2% to 20,057 units. Exports to China also declined 14.3% to 2,794 units. Domestic demand remained subdued, with UK-bound car production edging up just 0.7% to 10,352 units. Despite May’s improvement, UK car output in the first five months of 2026 remained 4.1% lower than a year earlier, as manufacturers continued to face weak domestic demand, elevated costs, and ongoing trade uncertainties.
2026-06-24